Acetylene-gas generator.



A.L.LEAGH. OETYLBNEV GAS GENERATOR. APPLIUATION FILED JULY 30, 1913.

Patented M9524, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. L. LEAGH.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULYso, 191s.

Patented 1991124, 1914L 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CoLUMBlA PLANCGRARH C0..WASH|N01'0N. D. c.

ALBERT L. LEACH, 0F BURDEN, KANSAS.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed J'uly 30, 1913.

Patented Mar. 24, i944. Serial No. 781,992.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT L. Liteon, a citizen of the United States, residing in Burden, in the county of Co-wley and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Generators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to generators of acetylene gas of the kind in which the carbid is contained in a receptacle from which it is automatically fed as often as needed to water contained in a vessel arranged beneath a bell which receives the gas as generated and delivers to a service pipe.

The object of this invention is to provide a generator of this class which isV simple in construction, reliable in operation and which is composed of but few parts which may be readily assembled or taken apart.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l shows a vertical central section through an acetylene gas generator embodying my improvements with some of the parts in side elevation and with other parts broken away. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the container for the carbid and the valve mechanism connected therewith. Fig. 3 is a detail view on an enlarged scale, and in section, of the valve mechanism for feeding the carbid, the valve being in its closed position. Fig. 4 is a similar view with the valve open. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the two parts of the valve.

The outer casing A, which has a conical bottom a, is preferably made of earthenware, and may be arranged under ground. It is provided with a removable cover A which may, if desired, be arranged in a chamber B underground, having a lining or casing Z) of any suitable material provided with a cover B. The water tank C is provided with a conical bottom c corresponding with the conical bottom of the outer casing A and it is of somewhat smaller diameter than the casing A, leaving a space c between its vertical walls and the vertical walls of the casing. The tank C is open at the top and it is lled with water X as shown. lVater is also contained in the space c', as indicated.

D indicates a bell which is open at bottom and closed at top and it fits over the tank C, its lower portion being received in the space c', and at its lower end it is provided with a ring o2 which serves to keep the bell centered with reference to the casing and the tank as it rises and falls.

E indicates a pipe leading from within the bell to a service pipe F.

H indicates a water trap below the lower parts of the pipes E and F.

C indicates a rod provided with a handle which operates a cock g by means of which the water trap may be drained.

The carbid container l may be made of any suitable material. lt has a hoppershaped bottom z', and is supported by a frame comprising three uprights J having bifurcated lower ends resting on the edge of the water tank and having their upper ends connected with a ring j on which the carbid container rests. The construction, it will be observed, is such that easy access may be had to diiferent partsl of the apparatus. By removing the covers B and A the bell is exposed and may be readily removed. After this the carbid container may be lifted out and then the supporting frame J, 7" may be removed, and if necessary the water tank may be withdrawn. The different parts may also be readily assembled in the casing. By providing conical bottoms for the casing and the water tank the latter is made to automatically center itself in the casing when lowered into it and the bell is also automatically centered when itl is lowered over the carbid container and the water tank which respectively guide the upper and lower parts of the bell. The water trap H serves to separate from the pipes E and F water or other foreign matter which may get into the pipes. When it is necessary to recharge the generator, the

residue is taken out from the vessel C and also from the casing A and then the cock g may be opened and the trap emptied.

In order to automatically feed the carbid, I provide the devices shown particularly in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 but such devices are also indicated partially in Fig. l. At the lower end 0f the hopper c' is a valve casing L which communicates with the hopper through an opening Z. Within the casing is a valve M comprising a cylindrical portion or shell m having closing ends m and an opening m2 which receives the part M that provides a measuring pocket for the carbid. This portion M of the valve is inserted through the opening m2, as indicated in Fig. 5, and occu- 1 i.

pies the position clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The part M' has a portion ma which projects from the cylindrical portion m and forms a shelf for the carbid. This part of the valve prevents the carbid from being fed until the valve has been turned to the proper position. When the valve is in the position shown in Fig the carbid is cut off and none can be fed to the generating chamber, but when the valve is in the position shown in Fig. e a measured quantityis fed from the pocket M and the further supply of carbid is prevented by the valve.

l? indicates a brush made of metal attached to the hopper t and located inside the shelf mi. This serves to prevent the carbid from passing out of the hopper when the valve is closed, as indicated in Fig. 3, but permits the valve to move to the position shown in Fig. t, at which time the fingers p bear closely on the cylindrical face of the valve Vand prevent carbid from passing from the hopper.

N indicates a valve shaft provided at one end with an arm a carrying a weight Q and extending' through a slotted guide g. The opposite end of the shaft is provided with a crank arm R, which extends through a link 1 jointed at r to a rod S extending vertically through a tubular casing T in the carbid container l. At its upper end the rod carries a flexible head t formed of a coil of wire, and a spring U within the casing and surrounding the rod S normally holds the rod in an elevated position and this holds the valve M in lits closed position. The flexible head t engages the top of the bell when the latter is lowered and is free to move sidewisel slightly should there be any side pressure thereon. The gas tends to lift the bell and when there is sufficient gas therein the bell will be separated from the head of the rod S and the valve M will be closed. lVhen, however, the supply of gas is diminished, the bell lowers and pushes the rod down until the upper end of the link r strikes the crank arm R and moves the valve until the weight Q passes beyond a vertical line through the axis of the shaft N when the Weight suddenly drops and opens the valve and allows the carbid to pass to the water tank. soon as suflicient gas has been generated the bell rises and withdraws from the rod S which latter rises and causes the valve to be closed. The apparatus operates intermittently in the manner described causing the bell to always contain suflicient gas to supply the service pipe.

The various vessels shown may be constructed 0f any suitable material and may be of any desired size. Preferably the apparatus is located out of doors and under- Y ground, as before stated.

This generator can neverclog by any failure to feed enough carbid to raise the bell clear of the head of the rod S. It is iinpossible -to feed enough carbid to cause any overflow, thus eliminating danger as well as the waste of gas. l

I claim as my invention: l

l. An acetylene gas generator, comprising an outer casing having a conical bottom, a water tank therein having a correspondingly shaped bottom but of less ldiameter whereby said tank is centered when placedin the outer casing, a bell within the casing overlapping at its lower end the water tank, and

means within tliebell for feeding carbid to operating to open it, a rod extendingv through the container, a spring for holding the valve closed and connections between said rod and the valve whereby when the rod is depressed it turns the valve to partially open it and allows the weighted arm tofully open the valve.

4. The combination with a carbid container, of a valve casing, avalve therein, a valve shaft for operating the valve, a

weighted arm on one end of said shaft andY which operates to open the valve, means for guiding said weighted arm, a crank arm on j the opposite end of said shaft, a vertically arranged rod having a link connection with said crank arm, and a spring for moving the rod vertically upward to close the valve.

5. The combination with a carbid coni;

tainer, of a valve casingvand a valve therein, comprising a cylindrical shell having a pocket provided with a shelf projecting from the valve, means for operating the valve, and a brush attached to the container j y and having fingers which engage the shelf and prevent the escapeof carbid from the container when the valve is in either its closed or open position but will permit carbid to be delivered from the valve when the c,

latter is open. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my naine.

ALBERT L. LEACH.

lVitnesses: Y

C. A. TRUEsDELL, Z. B. PRINCE.V

Copies of thisY patent may be obtained for ve cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. Y s 

